Fan case assemblies

Abstract

A fan case for use in a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes an outer shroud and a liner extending along the outer shroud. The fan case provides a protective band that blocks fan blades from being thrown out of the fan case in case of a blade-off event in which a fan blade is released during operation of the gas turbine engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fan case adapted to extend around blades of a fan rotor included in a gas turbine engine, the fan case comprising
 an annular outer shroud arranged to extend around a central axis of the fan case so that the annular outer shroud extends circumferentially around the blades of the fan rotor, 
 a first liner segment coupled to the annular outer shroud, the first liner segment including an outer radial surface coupled to an inner surface of the annular outer shroud arranged to face toward the central axis, an inner radial surface radially spaced apart from the outer radial surface that confronts the blades of the fan rotor, and liner openings that extend through the outer radial surface and the inner radial surface, 
 a second liner segment coupled to the annular outer shroud, the second liner segment including an outer radial surface coupled to the inner surface of the annular outer shroud arranged to face toward the central axis, an inner radial surface radially spaced apart from the outer radial surface that confronts the blades of the fan rotor, and liner openings that extend through the outer radial surface and the inner radial surface, and 
 a liner plate coupled to one of the outer radial surface and the inner radial surface of the first liner segment and coupled to one of the outer radial surface and the inner radial surface of the second liner segment to cause the second liner segment to move in response to movement of the first liner, 
 wherein the liner plate is formed to include plate openings that align with the liner openings formed in the first liner segment and the second liner segment to receive fasteners included in the fan case to couple the liner plate to the first liner segment and the second liner segment. 
 
     
     
       2. The fan case of  claim 1 , wherein the first liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the first liner segment, and the liner plate extends circumferentially along the front edge of the first liner segment. 
     
     
       3. The fan case of  claim 1 , wherein the first liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the first liner segment, the second liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the second liner segment, and the liner plate extends circumferentially along the front edge of the first and second liner segments. 
     
     
       4. The fan case of  claim 1 , wherein the first liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the first liner segment, and the liner plate is spaced apart axially from the front edge of the first liner segment. 
     
     
       5. The fan case of  claim 4 , wherein the second liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the second liner segment, and the liner plate is spaced apart axially from the front edge of the second liner segment. 
     
     
       6. The fan case of  claim 1 , wherein the liner plate includes a band aligned to extend circumferentially between the first and second liner segments and a strip arranged to extend axially along the first and second liner segments. 
     
     
       7. The fan case of  claim 6 , wherein the band has a band axial thickness and the strip has a strip axial thickness that is greater than the band axial thickness. 
     
     
       8. The fan case of  claim 6 , wherein the first liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the first liner segment, the second liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the second liner segment, and the band of the liner plate extends circumferentially along the front edge of the first and second liner segments. 
     
     
       9. The fan case of  claim 1 , wherein the liner plate is coupled to the outer radial surface of the first liner segment, and the liner plate is coupled to the inner radial surface of the second liner segment. 
     
     
       10. The fan case of  claim 9 , wherein the first liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the first liner segment, and the liner plate extends circumferentially along the front edge of the first liner segment. 
     
     
       11. The fan case of  claim 9 , wherein the first liner segment includes an intermediate surface extending between the inner radial surface and the outer radial surface, the intermediate surface intersects the outer radial surface to define a front edge of the first liner segment, and the liner plate is spaced apart axially from the front edge of the first liner segment. 
     
     
       12. The fan case of  claim 9 , wherein the second liner segment is circumferentially spaced apart from the first liner segment to form a gap therebetween and the liner plate extends through the gap between the outer radial surface of the first liner segment and the inner radial surface of the second liner segment. 
     
     
       13. The fan case of  claim 1 , wherein the liner openings are threaded to receive the fasteners. 
     
     
       14. A fan case adapted to extend around blades of a fan rotor included in a gas turbine engine, the fan case comprising
 an annular outer shroud arranged to extend around a central axis of the fan case so that the annular outer shroud is aligned axially with and extends circumferentially around the blades of the fan rotor, 
 a first liner segment coupled to the annular outer shroud, the first liner segment having an inner radial surface that confronts the blades of the fan rotor to define a first portion of an air flow path through the fan case, 
 a second liner segment coupled to the annular outer shroud, the second liner segment having an inner radial surface that confronts the blades of the fan rotor to define a second portion of the air flow path through the fan case, and 
 a liner plate coupled to the first liner segment and the second liner segment to cause the second liner segment to move in response to movement of the first liner segment, 
 wherein the annular outer shroud extends between a front end of the fan case and a back end of the fan case, the annular outer shroud includes a front hook adjacent to the front end of the fan case, a back hook adjacent to the back end of the fan case, and an intermediate hook located axially between the front and back hooks, the first and second liner segments are formed to be radially spaced apart from an inner surface of the annular outer shroud between the front and intermediate hooks to form a blade-retention cavity therebetween, and the liner plate is located axially between the front and intermediate hooks, and 
 wherein the fan case further includes fasteners that each extend through plate openings formed in the liner plate and into one of the first liner segment and the second liner segment to couple the liner plate to the first liner segment and the second liner segment. 
 
     
     
       15. A fan case adapted to extend around blades of a fan rotor included in a gas turbine engine, the fan case comprising
 an annular outer shroud arranged to extend around a central axis of the fan case so that the annular outer shroud is aligned axially with the blades of the fan rotor, the annular outer shroud having an inner surface that extends circumferentially around the blades of the fan rotor, 
 a first liner segment coupled to the annular outer shroud, the first liner segment having an outer radial surface coupled to the inner radial surface of the annular outer shroud and an inner radial surface that defines a first portion of an air flow path through the fan case, 
 a second liner segment coupled to the annular outer shroud, the second liner segment having an outer radial surface coupled to the inner radial surface of the annular outer shroud and an inner radial surface spaced apart from the outer radial surface that defines a second portion of the air flow path through the fan case, and 
 a liner plate coupled to the first liner segment and the second liner segment to cause the second liner segment to move in response to movement of the first liner segment in response to the first liner segment being contacted by a released fan blade included in the blades of the fan rotor, 
 wherein the liner plate is coupled to the inner radial surface of the first liner segment and to one of the outer radial surface and the inner radial surface of the second liner segment. 
 
     
     
       16. The fan case of  claim 15 , wherein the first liner segment and the second liner segment each include an outer tray coupled to the annular shroud, an liner-filler body bonded to the outer tray radially inward of the outer tray and configured to reinforce the first liner segment and the second liner segment, and an inner tray bonded to the liner-filler body to define the inner radial surface of the first liner segment and the second liner segment. 
     
     
       17. The fan case of  claim 16 , wherein the liner-filler body is formed in a honeycomb arrangement. 
     
     
       18. The fan case of  claim 16 , wherein the inner tray is an abradable layer. 
     
     
       19. The fan case of  claim 15 , wherein the fan case includes fasteners that each extend through plate openings formed in the liner plate and into one of the first liner segment and the second liner segment to couple the liner plate to the first liner segment and the second liner segment. 
     
     
       20. The fan case of  claim 15 , wherein the first liner segment and the second liner segment are spaced radially inward from the inner surface of the annular outer shroud to define a blade retention cavity between the inner surface of the annular outer shroud and the outer radial surface of the first liner segment and the second liner segment.